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ITV Report

28 May 2014 at 1:05pm

Woman mugged for her phone by a moped-riding gang

This is the shocking moment a woman was mugged for her phone by a moped-riding gang.

Credit: Met Police

The violent snatch and grab robbers struck 46 times in just 11 days last year in South London. They targeted pedestrians holding expensive smartphones and tablet computers and snatched a total worth £120,000.

Credit: Met Police

On one day last September the gang carried out ten offences within just five hours. One woman was punched in the face before her phone was stolen and another woman who fell to the floor was dragged along the pavement by the moped.

Credit: Met Police

A cyclist's helmet cam caught Courtney Morgan riding pillion on a moped and snatching a woman's phone in a street in Clapham when the driver mounted the pavement. Four of the gang, all from south west London, were sentenced at Kingston Crown Court.

19-year-old Courtney Morgan was jailed for two years

18-year-old Walid Hnida was sentenced to three years and four months

20-year-old Michael Ahmed was jailed for four years and eight months

16-year-old Deandre Riley-Reid received a Youth Rehabilitation Order

The fifth member of the gang, 17-year-old Jerome Williams will be sentenced Wednesday afternoon

Courtney Morgan Credit: Met Police

Walid Hnida Credit: Met Police

Michael Ahmed Credit: Met Police

Deandre Riley-Reid Credit: Met Police

This was an organised group of criminals who targeted commuters and innocent members of the public who were going about their ordinary business.

It became evident that the violence being used began to escalate throughout the series, including mopeds being ridden indiscriminately along busy pavements and victims being punched in the face for their mobile phones.

I am in no doubt that had these offenders not been caught quickly, more serious injuries to the public would have been sustained.